Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-03-14

click, click! say, 'Twhy don't You strik
hardergn sob" he replies, "that woul'
shatter the statue. / can't do il that way
/ must do il this way" So he works on
and after awhile the features come out
and everybody that enters the studio j
charmed and fascinated. Well, God ha
your soul under process of development
and it is the little annoyances and yex
ations of life that are chiselling out you
immortal nature. 1t is click, click, click
/ wonder why some great providence doe.
not come, and with one stroke prepare yor
for heaven. All, no; God says that is moi
the way. And so he keeps on by stroke:
of little vexations, until at last you shall
be glad spectacle for angels and for men
You know that large fortune may b
spent in small change, and a vast amount
of moral character may 90 away in small
depletion. 1t is the little troubles of life
that are having more effect upon you than
great ones. A swarm Of locusts will kill
grain field sooner than the incursion oi
three or four cattle. You say, "Sincs
l lost my child, since / lost my prop.
erty, / have been different man"
But you do not recognize the architec'
ture Of little annoyances, that are hewing
digging, cutting, shaping, splitting. and in
terjoining your moral qualities. Rats may
sink ship. One lucifer match may send
destruction through a block of store
houses. Catherine. .deiMedicis got her death
from smelling poisonous rose. Columbus
by stopping and ashing tor piece OF bread
and drink Of water at Franciscan con.
vent, was led TO the discovery of new
world. And there is an intimate connec-
tion between trifles and immensities, be-
tween nothings and everythings.
Now, be careful TO let none of those an
noyances 60 through your soul unaraign.
ed. Compel them to administer to your
spiritual wealth. The scratch of sixpen-
ny nail sometimes produces lock,jaw, and
the clip Of a most intinitesimal annoyance
may damage YOU forever. Do not let any
annoyance or perplexity come across your
soul without its making You better.
OUR NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
does not think it belittling to put tax on
pins, and a tax on buckles, and a tax on
shoes. The individual taxes do not amount
to much, but in the aggregate to millions
and millions Of dollars. And would have
you, o, Christian man, put high tariff on
every annoyance and vexation that comes
through your soul. This might not amount
To much in single cases, but in the aggre-
gate it would be great revenue Of spirit
ual strength and satisfaction. A bee can
suck honey even out of n nettlc; and if you
have the grace OF God in your heart you
can get sweetness ont of that which would
otherwise irritate and annoy. A returned
missionary told me that n company of ad-
venturers rowing up the Ganges were
stung to death by flies that infest that
region at certain seasons. have seen the
earth strewed with the carcasses of men
to get prepared for the great troubles Of
life is to conquer these small trou-
bles. What would you say OF q
soldier who refused TO load his
gun, or 10 20 into the conflict because il
was only skirmish, saying, 81 am not
going 10 expend my ammunition on
skirmish; wait until there comes n general
engagement, and then you will zee how
courageous am, and what battling will
do?" The general would say 10 such
man. "lf you are not faithful in q skir-
mish, you would he nothing in general
engagement" And ! have 10 tell you,
q Christian men, il you can not apply the
principles of Christ's religion on small
scale, you will never he able to apply them
on large scale.
If had my way with you would have
you possess all possible
WORLDLY PROSPERITY.
| would have you each one q gardcn-a
river flowing through il, geraniums and
shrubs on the sides, and the grass and
flowers rs beautiful rs though the rainbow
had fallen. would have you house, n
splendid mansion, and the bed should he
covered with upholstery dipped in the set
ting sun. | would have every hall in
your houses set with statues and statuettes,
and then would have the four quarters
of the globe pour in all their luxuries on
your table, and you should have forks of
silver and knives Of gold, inlaid with dia-
monds and amethysts. Then you should
each one of you have the finest horses, and
your pick of the cquipages of the world.
Then ! would have you live hundred
and fifty years. and you should not have
pain OF ache until the last breath. Not
each one OF u.s." you say. Yes; each one
of you. mot 10 your enemies?" Yes;
the only difference | would make with
more gilt on their walls, and little more
on their slippers. But You
say, "Why does not God give us all these
And | bethink myself. lie il
wiser II would make fools and sluggards
of us if we had our way. No man puts
his best picture in the portico or vesti-
bule of his house. God meant
this world TO he only tho yestibule Of
heaven, that great gallery Of the universe
toward which we are aspiring. We must
not have il TO good in this world, or we
would want no heaven.
POlycarp was condemned 10 he burnt 10
death. The stake was planted. He was
fastened to it, The iaggots were placed
around him, the fires kindled, but history
tells us that the flames bent outward like
the canvas of a ship in a stout breeze, 10
that the ilames, instead Of destroying Poly
carp, were only wall between him and
his enemies. They had actually had 10 de-
stroy him with the poniard; the flames
would not touch him. Well, my bearer,
| want you to understand that by Gods
grace the flames Of trial, instead Of con-
suming your soul, are only going to be
wall Of defense, and q canopy Of blessing.
God is going to fulfill TO you the blessing
and the promise, as He did 10 Polycarp.
"When thou walkcst through the fire
thou shall not be burned" Now do you
not understand; you shall know hereafter.
In heaven you will bless God even for the
hornet.
SALVATION on ia the greatest pain
destroyer of the age. Ii instantly relieves
and speedily annihilates pain. whether 1t
n